Tips For Troubleshooting Your Home Alarm System In Philadelphia
System hiccups and false alarms can be aggravating, and even more concerning, might prevent your home’s security from working the way it should. Luckily, most issues, from dead batteries to false alarms, are easy to correct. Take a look at our recommendations for troubleshooting your home alarm system in Philadelphia. We’ll help you keep your family safeguarded and your system operating the way it should.
Test Your Home Security System In Philadelphia
One sensible way to troubleshoot your property’s defense is to test it! Newer systems have a test mode so you don’t accidentally trigger an emergency response. After moving to test mode, do the following:
- Arm your system as you would when you head out.
- Open a window or door that uses a contact sensor, or test other sensors. Close the door or window so it doesn’t prompt the alarm as you turn the system back on.
- Permit the alarm to sound for 60 seconds to ensure communications with the security company and to create an entry in the alarm system log.
- Continue testing sensors as you wish
- Review the system activity log to confirm functionality.
No need to worry, monitoring agents will be aware that your alarm system is undergoing a test. Be sure to switch off test mode when you’re done. It’s smart to test monthly or anytime you change your home’s phone or internet provider.
Evaluate The Placement And Condition Of Motion Detectors
Although an integral aspect of your alarm system, motion detectors are well known for false alarms. Do your part to prevent them with a few straightforward troubleshooting steps.
- Perform a physical check. Is there something that could shift within the detection path of the sensor, like a window treatment blown in a breeze?
- Is the sensor covered in dust? Dirt, cobwebs, and debris can lead to malfunctions. Make sure the device is clean.
- Does the motion detector come with pet immunity you can enable? Some models can be set to disregard pets weighing as much as 100 pounds.
- When was the battery last replaced? A nearly depleted battery might impact performance or result in false alarms.
- Is the sensor pointing toward a source of heat? Excessive heat from a fireplace, direct sun, or something else can set off an alarm.
Keep Batteries On Hand And Look Out For Low Battery Signals
One helpful benefit of modern home security systems is that they’ll let you know when batteries are running low. If your system is equipped with a mobile app or control panel, you’ll often find messages there. Depending on the alarm, you may detect an occasional beep when batteries are getting low.
Contact sensors, smoke detectors, motion sensors, and other wireless devices have batteries that need to be replaced every so often. It’s wise to keep batteries ready and set a replacement schedule. Some systems also come with a backup battery for the main control panel. This backup battery helps keep your system operating if you have a power outage and should recharge itself once power is back online. If it doesn’t, you will need to replace it.
Troubleshooting Is Effortless With ADT Home Security In Philadelphia
As the foremost name in home security, ADT designs systems that supply superior functionality and convenience. Getting into test mode is straightforward through MyADT.com or the ADT+ app, and you’ll always get alerts when a battery is running low. Get in touch with Secure24 Alarm Systems, an authorized ADT dealer, to get more details and design a system perfect for your Philadelphia home. Call (215) 798-2927 or complete our form today!